Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-01-13
ALGER'S FAREWELL.
Message of Michigan's Retiring
Governor to the State
Legislature.
Condition of the States Educational,
Charitable, Reformatory, and
Penal Institutions.
A Variety OF Recommendation Fired
mt the Assembled Law.
Makers.
ALGER'S FAREWELL.
Gentlemen OF the Legislaturo

Gentlemen OF the Legislature:
The Treasurer's report shows that the State
OF Mfchtgnn owes 1921 600 which will mature IL
ttSv0 and the Treasurer has in his possession
United states Government Az per cent. bonds
10 the amount OF S23l, 900, which balances the
account. In word however, it can be said thai
our State is practically out OF debt conseouent-
~ nothing need be said OF It's credit, because il
svsr heyS ooeasspsi 30 ssaIn s--sss - /" -
our State institutions are in the main, In
excellent condition. The State University
Agricultural College, and Normal School ali ro.
qulre appropriations for repairs. improvements
and maintenance
The Reform School for Bova at lansing
under the able management OF SUPERINTENDENT
Gower Is doing great work J. however
recommend that the name be changed 80 as to
strike out the word Reform" for the reason
that IT indicates punishment for an offense, II
docs no good, and the rules OF the institution
with IL. -
The Industrial School for Girls at Adrian
needs some careful attention and Consideration
The same rule will, in measure apply to that
scnopi, about placing girls in homes, that has
Just been recommended for tho Reform School
A very great wrong connected with this institu-
tion should be rtghted at onco While there are
very many bad girls in the school, there are
quite large number OF small ones, and some
larger ones, too, who are sent there simply bo.
cause they have no friends. They are charged
with vagrancy" and with being -waywari"-
anything TO come under the letter OF the law
70 get rid OF the care OF them. No girl can 80
TO that school without carving nway more or
less OF a faint which affects her character and
VIII DO SO through life, as IL IL purely a reformn-
tory, and the innocent class referred to should
De taken away Immediately. Several smaller
girls haVo been sent home and recommitted to
the Coidwnter school within the past year from
which place they have been sent to com fortab ble
homes. 1 recommend tho enactment of a law
aDsolutely prohibiting the sending OF any girl
10 tnnt institution that has not q bad character
Of the Coldwater school 1 cannot saw too
much in praise. In twelve years IL has receiyeti
nearly z, ZOO children, and placed in homes over
l,JV OF them It's management. in my judg-
ment is as near perfection as possible
Ihe State Prison at Jackson is an "old tran
and ought to be thoroughly overhauled.
u I1e iohla house OF Correction is in excellent
The State Prison OF the Upper PeninsuIa
has hled its annualreport, which is submitted.
ther aid be granted
The Schools for the Blind and Deaf and Dumb
are doing great work, and recommend
them to your cordial support,
THE INSANE.
Inc TOUR Insane Asylums have mado OK
naustlve reports of their conditions and doinps
AZ VIII De noticed that requests made for
improvements, for the purchase OF land, aud
Tor the building OF cottages, all OF which np-
prove, except / recommend that wbateyer
moneys are expended by the Pontiac and Kala,
mazoo Asylums shall be taken from their sur
Plus iund and no appropriation from the State
asked for At tho rate charged for caring for
patients during the present low prices of pro.
visions quite a substantial saving is maize and
it is out OF this that it is recommended the inn.
oofSisJ sysooID, bo tar os 10 be used very
much cheaper than keeping patients in the
main buildings, as cottages can be built for
from two hundred and fifty to three hundred
dollars per patient, while the main buildings
nave cost more than thousand dollars per
patient; and besides, these cottages placed on
farms give the patients work which they gladly
perform and not only beneht themselves but
The ABylum at Urayaraa Citv 10 IN,
and management, all that could be desired.
The Asylum for Insane Criminals at Ionia is
ABLY managed, but its location, overlooking the
prison yard as 1t does, Is most unfortunate. 1
hope It will not be enlarged, but that il may be
turned Into much needed prison for women
ana new asylum, where ample lands can be
obtained, may be erected for the criminal in
sane.
L submit the report OF the Mining School and
recommend 1t to your careful attention. The
mining interest OF Michigan has become so very
great, although still in its infancy that all that
pertains TO the scientific knowledge concerning
1t may DO encouraged. trust you will deal lib
orally with IL. This school has opened under
the most favorable auspices, and already at the
close OF the first term is in admirable and estab-
hshed working order.
The report of the Board Of Corrections and
Charities is submitted herewith. Many of its
recommendations are excellent ospeciallv
those pertaining to our county jails and Door
houses, but 1 differ materially with them in
some matters, and especially that contained in
tho NTH section OF the report, which reads as
follows: This board has found a great iaxitv in
the method OF doing business, and one which
would should mover obtain in any State institu-
ton respecting the expenditure of public
money. We desire particularly to discIaiin any
idea that there has been, so far as we know.
any wrong, except whnt may be considered such
from the facts that the boards spend the money
for purposes not authorized by any law The
evil grows out Of the somewhat loose manner in
which appropriations are made"
lt in substance charges the Boards with mis-
Of money, although probably such
is not its intention The Boards of these differ
ent institutions are made up from the very best
men In our State-men who give their time and
thought to the care of the same without pay or
thanks, but simply from a motive to serve the
State and do what good they can for the unfor-
tunate inmates OF them. They are in n large
part thorough business men, and their judg-
ment as to any emergency which arises and
which cannot be provided for by special legisla-
lion because unforeseen, should bo either nc
,epted by the State or else the system should be
abolished or other men appointed to fill their
places FOR instance, supposing in one of these
Institutions any disaster should occur, such as
! breaknge of machinery, loss OF property by
ire or even the death of horse that is essential
20 the work Of the same? Under their pIan
nothing could be done TO supply the loss until
he Legislature should meet and make an ap-
propriation; unless, OF course n specinl contin-
rent fund shall bo placed at the disposal of tho
Boards in which case the State could not be the |
yainer, as they would have much discretion ]
ls now. Contingencies for the expenditure ~ !
money viii continually come up, and when they |
10 must be met and there is no way TO meet |
hem except by giving TO the Boards in charge |
powers to great extent.
think it would be wise to enact n law re- |
luiring all boards OF institutions to make an |
nual settlements with the State, covering all !
unused or accumulated balances into the State |
Treasury. This would be doing business in a |
business way. believe the Board of Correc- !
ions and Charities are doing n most excellent |
work in the State, but think they are accom-
pltshing their greatest good in connection with |
'ur county agents, jails and poorhouses, and 1 |
nope their powers and duties may bo confined |
20 the latter work, and that they may be re- |
ieved from looking after the State institutions /
recommend the law to be changed accordingly
The board for the Soldiers Home also sub |
nits its report. This Home was erected on n |
beautiful site near the city Of Grand Rapids, |
which was purchased by its citizens at a cost /
Plans and specifications wero advertised for to /
construct a building that would accommodate
It least 400 people Bids were invited by adj |
and ranged from s156,3sl Co S99,-
6T61. The latter was accepted. The building L
vas substantially completed and dedicated |
The furnishing OF the same was not taken into |
lccount and II Will require the sum OF about |
20 900 70 meet that account. While the build
ngs OF the State institutions outside of the
State prisons have averaged to cost not over
., 900 for each person accommodated when they
~ the within figures, not TO exceed 500 for
zach person Il will accommodate, and its con-
truction and material will compare fayorablv
With any erected by the State.
The Home, since II was established, has ac-
a large number Of old soldiers, but
erving, on account Of lack Of funds appropri-
tied for thor maintenance. These old veterans
lave been scattered around among boarding
louses since the law establishing II went into